Isabel Díaz Ayuso has named three former Madrid presidents to a legal advisory body. Each will earn €750 per session attended. The move revives paid consultative roles for ex-leaders after a decade-long pause.
The Community of Madrid has reinstated paid consultative positions for former regional presidents, marking a significant shift in how ex-leaders remain involved in public affairs. Isabel Díaz Ayuso has appointed Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, Esperanza Aguirre, and Cristina Cifuentes as elective members of the Comisión Jurídica Asesora, granting them €750 for each meeting they attend. This decision comes after nearly a decade in which former presidents could not receive any compensation from the regional budget following the dissolution of the previous advisory council in 2015.
The new arrangement, formalized under the statute for former presidents approved by Ayuso in 2025, sets out that these roles are strictly remunerated per session. In 2025, the commission held 45 plenary meetings, which would have amounted to €33,750 for each member had they attended every session. The compensation is net, and attendance is not mandatory—no payment is made for missed meetings, whether due to scheduling conflicts or personal reasons. The regional government emphasizes that this payment is incompatible with any other public indemnity or salary following their term in office.
Initially, the proposed compensation was €459 per session, but the final figure was raised to €750. According to the rules, former presidents can serve as elective members for up to six years, with the possibility of extending to twelve years for those who led the region for more than four years. This extension applies to figures such as Lenguina, Gallardón, Aguirre, and potentially Ayuso herself in the future. Eligibility requires that former presidents have requested the position, governed Madrid for at least two years, and assumed office at the start of a legislative term.
Beyond financial compensation, the statute allows these former leaders to use official facilities for institutional activities, receive protocol support during events, and be reimbursed for expenses related to their advisory duties. As noted by El País, the arrangement mirrors practices in other Spanish institutions, where former presidents retain consultative influence and receive compensation for their expertise. The move has sparked debate over the appropriateness and scale of such payments, especially as public scrutiny of political privileges remains high.
For context, Madrid's approach to supporting former officials has evolved over recent years. In a related development, the regional government previously allocated €1 million to assist businesses affected by wildfires, demonstrating a broader trend of targeted financial measures in the region. Details of that initiative can be found in this report on Madrid's wildfire recovery grants.
Spain's autonomous communities have varying policies regarding the roles and benefits of former leaders. While some regions maintain honorary or unpaid advisory positions, others, like Madrid, are now formalizing paid consultative roles. The debate over compensation, transparency, and the value of institutional memory continues to shape public administration reforms across the country. The current changes in Madrid highlight the ongoing balance between recognizing experience and ensuring accountability in the use of public funds.
